DPP crisis: MPs forced to renounce pressure group

Infighting in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has intensified with the gurus forcing members of parlimanet to declare their loyalty to the party and its leadership or face expulsion.

The party has summoned all DPP members in the central region to a meeting at Civic Offices in Lilongwe on Thursday to “castigate” and denounce Moses Kunkuyu, MP for Blantyre City West and the pressure group known as Hope Alliance.

“We have been told to go and speak ill against Kunkuyu. We should also denie that we are members of the Hope Alliance and pledge our loyalty to DPP,” said some members of parlimanent.

“There will be a press conference thereafter where the MPs will be paraded to deny being members of the Hope Alliance. But in reality the MPs are fighting an underground battle within the party,” said the MP a former cabinet minister.

Speaker Chimunthu Banda

Another MP corroborated the story, saying the “backstreet” intelligence of the DPP has been “cooking” our stories to turnish others within the ranks.

Among those being implicated to the Hope Alliance is Speaker of Parliament Henry Chimunthu Banda.

But sources said Chimunthu is being targeted to eliminate him as President Bingu wa Mutharika’s brother, Peter, the heir apparent fears that the Speaker can mount a strongest challenge against his presidential bid.

DPP secretary general Wakuda Kamanga said “there is no crisis” in the party.

He said all the party organs have continued to work together and that the party’s operations are normal.

“There is no crisis in DPP. If anything the party has become even stronger,” Kamanga said.

Other members reported to be in the pressure group include former finance minister Ken Kandodo. Former ministers now backbenchers; Steven Kamwendo ( Ntcheu Bwanje North) and Leckford Thotho Mwanza (Dowa North East) are said to be members.